The 1970s - Pop Rocks and Rockin’ Pop

It's remarkable how certain items have a tendency to cause people to reflect on their childhood memories. It's often a favorite toy, such as a special doll or train set that they played with as a child. It could also be a song, a favorite smell, an ice cream cone, or even a simple piece of candy that ignites their memories.  This article explores several popular 1970s candy brands that have had an everlasting impact on countless people all over the world.

During the early 1970s, the classic children’s book by Roald Dahl, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ” was adapted to become the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” starring Gene Wilder. Along with the success of the film, consumers created a strong demand for candies associated with the Willy Wonka brand. This demand let to the growth of an empire.  The Wonka brand had its beginnings in the year 1971, and it coincided with the introduction of this classic film to the public. Many of these particular 1970s candies actually originated from the original book and movie, including the famous Wonka Bar and the legendary Everlasting Gobstoppers.   



Nestle purchased the Wonka brand in 1988, and they now have numerous Wonka related candies that include: Nerds, Bottle Caps, Kazoozles, Runts, Wonka Fun Dip, Laffy Taffy, Sweet Tarts, Shockers, and more.



Another candy to have a strong impact on the population during the 1970s was Pop Rocks. These tiny rocks that explode in children's mouths became a big hit on school campuses everywhere. Many kids like to see how many Pop Rocks they can squeeze into their mouths before succumbing to the never-ending detonations. Pop Rocks were popular then, and they remain a favorite for kids to this very day - another huge success story.



Although created much earlier than 1970, the next candy is completely worthy of mentioning in this article. Tootsie Roll was a favorite of many during the 1970s, and it remains an all time favorite - especially during the Halloween season. The Tootsie Roll was created in the year 1896, when an Austrian named Leo Hirshfield opened a petite candy shop in New York City.



Leo handcrafted and individually wrapped his chewy chocolate delights - which quickly became a customer favorite. He charged a penny a piece for the candy, and he named the tasty treats after his daughter Clara's nickname, which was "Tootsie." Over the years, Tootsie Roll Industries has grown into one of the largest candy manufacturers in the world, and their yearly sales are closing in on the half-billion dollar mark.

These candies have all stood the test of time, and they won't be going away anytime soon either.